Combination pick and bucket attachment for excavating machines and the like



March 27, 1962 M. J. BLES 3,027,027

COMBINATION PICK AND BUCKET ATTACHMENT FOR EXCAVATING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 5, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

March 27, 1962 M. J. BLES COMBINATION PICK AND BUCKET ATTACHMENT FOR EXCAVATING MACHINES AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 5, 1960 INVENTOR.

J u c e M March 27, 1962 M. J. BLES COMBINATION PICK AND BUCKET ATTACHMENT FOR EXCAVATING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 5, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INV EN TOR.

3,027,027 CUMBINATIGN PICK AND BUCKET ATTACH- MENT FOR EXCAVATiNG MACHFNES AND THE LIKE Marcus J. Bles, RED. 2, McLean, Va. Filed Jan. 5, 1960, Ser. No. 608 Claims. (Cl. 214146) This invention relates generally to excavating machinery. More particularly, the invention has reference to a combination pick and bucket, designed as a complete front end attachment adapted for mounting on a heavy duty boom carried by a crawl-mounted or truck-mounted crane mechanism, tractor-mounted backhoe mechanism, or any other suitable earth-working equipment.

3y way of background, it may be noted that many types of special attachments have been designed, for mounting on heavy duty booms carried by various types of excavating apparatus. A common device now in use is a backhoe bucket. This is generally carried by the dipper stick pivotally supported on the boom of the crane mechanism or related equipment. The operation of the backhoe bucket is, of course, well known, and need not be discussed at length. It is sufiicient to note that in the regular operation of a backhoe bucket, difiiculties are often experienced, in that ground may be encountered that is so hard as to resist ready penetration by the bucket bottom. This necessitates a call for special equip ment, used to break up rocks, stone, shale, or hard dirt. A typical piece or special equipment used for this purpose is a power pick. After operation of the power pick, the loosened rock or other hard material is removed by the bucket or by other excavating means.

It has heretofore been proposed, in this connection, to incorporate in the bucket one or more specially designed pick teeth for breaking up hardened ground or the like. .herefore, it is not contended that the present invention, in its broadest aspects, encompasses the over-all, broad concept of combining a power pick and excavating bucket.

Rather, the main object of the present invention is to provide a generally improved power pick and bucket combination for heavy duty exacavating machinery, and to this end, I have conceived a device of this type which includes, as important components thereof, a bucket opening in the direction in which the digging and/ or picking operation is to progress, the bucket having a bottom pivoted on an axis extending transversely of the bucket at the open side thereof; specially designed, removable pick teeth projecting forwardly from and fixedly secured to the pivoted bottom; and fluid-pressure-operated, extensible means connected between the upper portion of the bucket and the bottom, in such a way as to be swiftly and accurately controllable by the equipment operator, to locate the bottom (and hence the pick teeth) in selected positions of adjustment about the axis of pivotal move ment of the bottom. The bottom of the bucket has a normal, closed position, permitting regular use of the bucket in excavating operations. By operation of the extensible means from a remote location, the bottom can be pivoted either upwardly or downwardly from its normal, closed position. Whether moved upwardly or in a downwardly direction, the bottom can be considered as being in a selected, adjusted, open position. Thus, when the bottom pivots upwardly, it declines in a direction toward the open side of the bucket, so as to dump material from the bucket in a forward direction, that is, through the open frontof the bucket. When, on the other hand, the bottom is pivoted downwardly from its closed position, it operates to dump the excavated material rearwardly from the bucket.

Apart from the selectively directed dumping or un- Patented Mar. 2?, 1962 loading feature discussed above, the invention may be further briefly summarized as incorporating the feature of selectively pointing the pick teeth in relation to the arcuate path in which the bucket may travel about the pivot axis. This increases measurably the versatility of the device when used as a power pick, since the pick teeth can be selectively directed according to the particular type of hard material encountered, the ground contour, etc. Additionally, the equipment operator is enabled to rock the pivoted bottom back-and-forth about its pivot axis, when the pick teeth have penetrated the hard material. This causes the teeth to be rocked correspondingly. As a result, the teeth exert a prying action, which swiftly and easily dislodges the material penetrated by the teeth.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide an attachment of the character stated which can be designed as a complete front end assembly, mountable upon a heavy duty boom. Thus, the invention in one sense can be termed a complete dipper structure, having the characteristics of being a unitary assembly of a dipper stick, bucket, and pick means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination pick and bucket that will he possessed of a high degree of strength and ruggedness, particularly along the lines followed by the shocks and other forces developed during the use of the device as a pick.

Still another object of importance is. to provide a coactive relationship of the body portion of the bucket, the pivoted bottom thereof, the pick teeth, and the extensible means used for adjusting the bottom about its pivot axis, such that the extensible means will be operable with maximum speed and facility, to properly locate the bucket bottom both in ordinary excavating and in picking operations.

Yet another object of importance is to insure to the maximum extent that the bucket bottom will remain in any position to which it is adjusted about its pivot axis, even under the heaviest of shocks or other forces occurring in use of the invention.

Still another object is to so form and arrange the components of the invention as to cause the extensible means, when compressed air is used as the fluid pressure, to act as a cushion or shock absorber. In carrying out this object, it is proposed that a sligh give or added compression of the air will occur, on each blow or impact, so that the bottom may pivot slightly from its selected position, thus to yield to a small degree. By so moving, the bucket is caused to be relieved of the full force of the impact, said bucket returning to its previous position as soon as the force has been absorbed.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claims appended hereto, and from the annexed drawing. in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the combined pick and bucket attachment constituting the present invention, as it appears when in use on a boom mechanism of a power shovel or similar piece of excavating machinery, said machinery being illustrated only fragmentarily, and somewhat diagrammatically;

FlC-URE 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the complete pick and bucket attachment per se, said attachment comprising a unitary dipper structure designed as a full front end attachment for the excavating machinery;

FIGURE 3 a longitudinal sectional view substantially on line 3-4 P'GURE 2, on a scale enlarged above that of F GUlll-l 2.;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view on the same scale as FEGURE 3, the pivoted bottom being shown in full lines in its normal, closed position, and being shown in dotted lines in selected open positions respectively located at opposite sides of the normal, closed position;

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal sectional view, on the same scale as FIGURE 4, taken substantially on line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an exploded perspective view of the bucket bottom per se; and

FIGURE 7 is a diagram of the fluid pressure system embodied in the invention, the bucket bottom being illustrated diagrammatically, in dotted lines.

Referring to the drawing in detail, at 10 I have generally designated a bucket of the backhoe type, formed in accordance with the present invention and designed to be carried (see FIGURE 1) by a conventional excavating machine 12, such as a power shovel. The excavating machine 12 includes a boom assembly 14, and pivotally supported on the front end of said boom assembly is a dipper stick 16 which, together with the bucket 10 and other components illustrated in FIGURE 2, can be said to constitute a dipper structure, generally designated at 17. Said dipper structure 17 is a complete, unitary assembly, which can be fabricated as a front end attachment for the earth-working or excavating machine 12.

Quite possibly, there may be variations in the construction, and the illustrated arrangement is to be considered as that which is presently preferred, but not necessarily the only construction that will be eflicient and workable in carrying out the principles of the invention.

In any event, the dipper stick 16, in the illustrated arrangement, includes a transverse, open-ended bearing sleeve .18, fixedly mounted adjacent the upper end of the dipper stick. The bearing sleeve 18 projects laterally in opposite directions from the body portion of the dipper stick, and the connection between the bearing sleeve and the body portion is reinforced by longitudinal gussets or reinforcing plates 20, comprising lower gussets. The construction is further strengthened and rigidified by upper gussets 22 extending upwardly, rearwardly from the hearing sleeve. Transverse gussets 24 are extended substantially horizontally from the bearing sleeve, when the dipper stick is in a generally vertical position.

All of the components of the dipper stick so far described are welded or otherwise fixedly secured together, and rotatably mounted upon the upper end of the resulting structure, are transversely spaced, coaxial sheaves 26.

Fixedly secured to the lower end of the dipper stick and projecting forwardly therefrom, that is, toward the earth-working machine, is an apertured sheave support plate 28.

This completes the construction of the dipper stick. Considering now the bucket 10, this includes a pair of vertically disposed side walls 30, merging into upwardly convergent side wall extensions 32 (see FIGURE 3). The extensions 32 of the side walls are welded to the side walls proper, as at 33.

Bucket 10 further includes a back wall 34, the opposite side edges of which are welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the back edges of the side walls 30. As a result, there is provided a bucket that is wholly open at its front, while being closed along its sides and back. The term front is employed in this description, and in the appended claims, merely as one that can be conveniently used to describe the open side of the bucket, the term being selected in view of the direction in which the bucket would travel during the discharge of its excavating or picking function, said direction being shown by the curved, dotted line shown in FIGURE 1.

As will be noted, the dipper stick 16, side walls 30, back wall 34, and upwardly convergent side wall extensions 32, cooperate to define a rigidly constituted upstanding portion 35 of the dipper structure 17.

Generally designated at 36 is a bottom wall of the bucket 10, which constitutes a bottom portion of the dipper structure 17. The bottom wall 36 is illustrated to particular advantage in FIGURES 4 and 6, and as shown, includes a curved back plate 38, the back edge of which extends to the back wall 34, when the bottom wall 36 is in its normal, closed position, shown in full lines in FIGURE 4.

Bottom wall 36 also includes a front part or plate 40, which is substantially greater in thickness than the back plate 38. The front plate 40 is of rectangular configuration, in the preferred embodiment, and welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the top surface of the top plate is a transversely extending sleeve 42 formed open at its opposite ends to receive a pivot or bearing shaft 44, the opposite ends of which are engaged in openings 45 (see FIGURE 5) provided in the respective side walls 30. The ends of the shaft 44 are welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the side walls, in the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Designated at 46 is a cross plate, coextensive in length with and disposed immediately in front of the sleeve 42. Cross plate 46 is welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the bearing sleeve, in a position extending protectively in front of the sleeve, thus providing a protective strengthening means for the sleeve, designed to increase the overall ruggedness of the structure.

The sleeve, as previously noted herein, is welded to the front plate 40, the weld being designated at 48.

Designated at 50 is a bottom plate, welded to the under side of the front plate intermediate the front and back edges of the front plate. The bottom plate 50 constitutes an abutment engaged by the combined digging and pick teeth of the invention.

Referring to FIGURE 6, formed in the front edge por tion of the front plate 40 are openings 52. These are uniformly spaced over the full width of the front plate, immediately in front of the cross plate 46.

The combined digging and pick teeth have been designated at 54, 56, 58. In the illustrated embodiment, there is a large center tooth 54, flanked by opposite but identical side teeth 56, 58. All the teeth are progressively increased in width and thickness in a direction from their beveled or blade-like front ends, toward their rear ends. Referring to FIGURE 5, in the illustrated example, the center tooth is sharpened across its squarely-' cut front edge, and is also sharpened along its side edges as at 60. The side teeth are sharpened along their squarely-cut front edges, and also along their inner side edges, as at 62, 64 respectively.

The outer side edges 66, 68 of the side teeth 56, 58 are disposed in parallel relation, and are spaced laterally outwardly from the planes of the outer faces of the side walls 30, as shown in FIGURE 5. This construction has been found desirable, in shielding the components disposed immediately in back of the side teeth.

The several teeth are removably, fixedly attachable to the thickened front part of the bottom wall of the bucket. To this end, the teeth 54, 56, 58 have rearwardly projecting top flanges 70, 72, 74 respectively. These are formed with regularly spaced openings adapted to register with the openings 52. Spaced downwardly from the top flanges are bottom flanges 76, 78, 80, of the teeth 54, 56, 58 respectively. The bottom flanges are thinner than the top flanges, but project rearwardly therefrom, into abutting relation to the bottom plate 50 (see FIGURE 4). Apertures are formed in the bottom flanges, in registration with the apertures of the top flanges, and on assembly of the several teeth with the front part of the bottom wall, the registered openings are adapted to receive connecting bolts 82, on which nuts 84 are threaded, as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5.

The construction provides a very strong, rigid connection of the teeth to the rigidified and strengthened front part of the bottom wall of the bucket At the same time, however, the teeth are fully removable, so as to permit swift and easy replacement of any tooth, as necessary. It

may be noted, from FIGURE 4, that a very strong backing is provided for the teeth, by not only the bottom plate 50, but also, the cross plate 46, which, in turn, is backed up by the sleeve 42 having the pivot shaft 4-4 extending therethrough. This provides for a rugged construction, designed to resist heavy shocks, encountered during use of the device as a pick.

As shown in FIGURE 6, rigid with the back edge portion of the'front plate as are opposite but identical ears 86 having inwardly projecting, coaxial trunnions 88 rotatably engaged in openings formed in the lower ends of the legs 89 of a bail 9t Bail 90 is of inverted U-shape, and bridges the interior of the bucket, intermediate the front and back edges of the bucket (see FIGURE 4). The bail is so formed as not to interfere with normal excavating operations, and as shown in FIGURE 3, the bail has inwardly offset ends 92, at the lower ends of its legs 89. This permits the main portions of the legs to be disposed in close proximity to the respective, adjacent side walls 30 of the bucket, while still permitting the pivotal connection of the bail to the cars 86, which are also disposed in close proximity to the respective side walls 30.

A ram assembly has been generally designated at 94, and comprises, in cooperation with the bail, an extensible means connected between the upstanding portion 35 and the bottom portion 36 of the dipper structure. Ram assembly in the illustrated arrangement, includes a single cylinder 96, located medially between the opposite sides of the bucket, said cylinder comprising the upper end of the ram assembly. The cylinder is pivoted intermediate its ends upon the respective extensions 32 of the side walls 34 through the provision of opposite but identical journals 98 fixedly secured to the side wall extensions 32 and proje-cting inwardly therefrom to receive trunnions 1% projecting laterally outwardly from opposite sides of the cylinder.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the ram assembly utilizes compressed air. However, a hydraulic ram assembly can be used, if desired. Air is preferred, for reasons to be made more clearly apparent hereinafter.

In any event, in a workable arrangement, I provide hoses 102, we, the hose 102 being connected in communication with the upper extremity of the cylinder, while the hose 104 is connected in communication with the lower extremity thereof, through the medium of a connecting tube 1%. Referring to FIGURE 7, wherein the fluid pressure system is illustrated diagrammatically, it will be noted that the source of pressure has been designated at 168. Said source is wholly conventional, and hence need not be illustrated in detail. The source constantly maintains air under pressure, with the flow of the air to the ram assembly being controlled by means of a valve 110 having passages 112.

In one position of the valve, as shown by way of example in FIGURE 7, it connects the pressure source 1% with the hose 104, while at the same time connecting hose 192 with atmosphere. Therefore, in these circumstances air will be directed under pressure to the lower end of the cylinder 96, so as to act upon the piston 113 projecting downwardly from the cylinder. This causes retraction, that is, upward movement of the piston.

On rotation of the valve core through 90 degrees in either direction from its FIGURE 7 position, the pressure source 1% will be connected in communication with the hose 192, while hose 2- would be connected to atmosphere to provide an exhaust passage. At this time, air will be directed from the pressure source into the hose 1G2, so as to pass into the upper end of the cylinder, thereby to extend the piston 113.

By turning the valve. core 45 degrees from its FIGURE 7 position in either direction, the valve will close off the tube extending from the source of pressure, and will, at the same time, close off the hoses I02, we, so as to maintain the piston in any position to which it may have, at the time, have been extended or retracted.

Of course, the operation of the valve is controlled from within the cab of the excavating machine, and it will be obvious that byselective operation of the valve, the ram assembly will operate to adjust the bottom wall 36 of the bucket about its pivot axis defined by the shaft 4 In a normal, full line position shown in FIGURE 4, the bottom wall closes the bottom of the bucket. On retraction of the piston, the bottom wall moves from its normal position B, and may move upwardly as far as position A. This would be the upper limit of the travel of the bucket, since any further attempts to retract the piston will be inoperative to produce further clockwise movement of the bottom wall 36, viewing the same as in FIGURE 4.

On extension of the piston, the bottom wall can move counterclockwise, viewing the same as in FIGURE 4, to a lowermost position C. Thus, it is seen that the. bottom wall can be pivotally adjusted in opposite directions, from its normal position, so that in one extreme open position A, the bottom wall declines toward the front of the bucket. In the opposite extreme open position C, the bottom wall declines toward the back of the bucket. In the position A, the bottom wall will dump or unload previously excavated material, through the open front of the bucket. In the position C, the bottom wall will dump the material in a rearward direction, as will be obvious.

The extension and retraction of the piston can be carried out very swiftly, and as a result, the bottom wall can be pivotally moved not only for unloading material, but also for the purpose of rocking the pick mechanism defined by the teeth. This is shown to particular advantage in FIGURE 4, and it will be observed that the bucket can be swung downwardly to penetrate the ground G, possibly in back of a large rock R that has resisted ordinary excavating techniques. When the teeth have penetrated the ground in the manner shown in full lines in FIGURE 4, the operator of the equipment can manipulate the valve, through the medium of a suitable lever or handle, not shown, in such a way as to cause alternating extensions and retractions of the piston. This causes a swift rocking of the pick teeth back-and-forth, as for example, between the two dotted line positions shown in FIGURE 4; This has been found highly eiiective in dislodging rocks, shale, or other hard material.

The dipper structure 17 shown per se in FIGURE 2,

. has been illustrated in FIGURE 1 as it would appear when mounted upon a suitable boom assembly of an excavating machine 12. The working arrangement shown in FIGURE 1 could be varied, but has been found to be well suited to produce efficient operation of the dipper structure.

Thus, in FIGURE 1 I have illustrated a boom 116, the outer end of which pivotally supports the dipper structure 17. A lower cable 118 is connected at one end, as at III, to the sheave support block 114. Cable IE8 is then reeved about a sheave 120 rotatably supported upon the intermediate portion of the boom 116. Cable 118 is then extended forwardly, being reeved about the sheave 1T2, after which it is trained over the sheave 120 and extended rearwardly to a suitable winch means, not shown, provided upon the machine 12.

It will be understood that when the winch means is operated in a cable-winding direction, a pull will be created at the point 119, tending to swing the lower end of the dipper structure 17 in an arcuate path, as shown by the dotted line arrow in FIGURE 1.

The boom 116 is pivoted on the crawler unit of the machine I2, at 122, for vertical swinging movement. At 124, the boom lid is provided with shaft or pin means extending into the bearing sleeve 18 of the dipper structure. As a result, the dipper structure pivots in a vertical plane upon the outer end of the boom 116. Dipper structure I7 pivots counterclockwise about the shaft 124, viewing the dipper structure as in FIGURE 1, responsive to the exertion of pull on the cable 118. The dipper structure pivots clockwise, under the pull exerted by a cable extending above the boom. To this end, there is provided a sheave means 128, rotatably supported upon the upper end of a straight, elongated arm 126 fixed to the boom 116 and extending upwardly from the boom adjacent the inner end of the boom. Cable 130 is trained about the sheave means 128, and is reeved, also, about the sheaves 26. Cable 130, at one end, is connected to a yoke 132 pivotally supported at the upper end of the arm 126. Then, the cable, at its other end, would be coiled about a winch, not shown. Thus, when the winch carrying cable 130 is operated in a cable-winding direction, the dipper structure 17 would be caused to pivot clockwise in FIGURE 1 about the shaft 124.

It will be understood that whenever a single sheave is mentioned herein, usually there would be two or more sheaves in side-by-side relation, such as shown. For example, at the upper end of the dipper structure in FIG- URE 2. A plurality of convolutions of the respective cables would be extended between the cooperating sheaves of the dipper structure and boom means, thus to produce the desired mechanical advantage in the operation of the invention.

In use of the invention, it will be understood that whenever desired, the bucket can be used for excavating relatively soft dirt, in the same manner as a conventional backhoe bucket. The bucket, even in ordinary excavating of soft materials, however, has certain advantages over conventional backhoe buckets, which do not, ordinarily, have pivoted bottom walls provided with forwardly projecting teeth. The arrangement permits selective positioning of the bottom wall, so as to facilitate digging at locations not fully accessible to conventional backhoe buckets.

When used as a pick, it will be understood that the dipper structure would first be swung clockwise from its FIGURE 1 position, to elevate the bucket to a substantial degree. Then, the bucket may be permitted free gravitational fall to penetrate the ground in the manner shown in full lines in FIGURE 4. The bottom wall may then be rocked back-and-forth, to dislodge the broken, hard material. Said material can then be scooped up in the bucket by continued forward movement of the bucket. Alternatively, the bucket may be raised once again and then lowered to continue the digging and/or picking action.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confined to the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated and described, since such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles of operation and the means presently devised to carry out said principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any changes in construction that may be permitted within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an excavating apparatus which includes a movable boom; a combined power pick and digging apparatus comprising: a dipper stick including upper and lower end portions, the upper end portion of the dipper stick being pivotally secured to the boom; a bucket of the backhoe variety fixedly secured to the lower end portion of the dipper stick and being open at its front end, said bucket having a fixed back wall and side walls fixedly joined thereto, said bucket having a bottom wall, including a leading end edge, pivotally mounted on a transverse axis between the fixed side walls; a plurality of cutting teeth fixed to the leading end edge of the bottom wall; and quick acting fluid actuated means operatively engaged with the bottom wall for pivoting the bottom wall from a first extreme location wherein it declines toward the front end of the bucket to a second extreme location wherein it declines toward the back wall of the bucket whereby the teeth are adapted to be forced in opposite directions in a cutting operation.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said quick acting fluid actuated means includes a cylinder mounted above the side walls, a piston rod operatively connected in the cylinder, and a bail of inverted U-shape carried by the piston rod, the bail bridging the interior of the bucket and being pivotally connected to the bottom wall rear-wardly of the transverse axis thereof.

3. The invention of claim 1, wherein said cutting teeth include a pair of identical but opposite outer teeth having sharpened forward edges and sharpened inner side edges, and an intermediate central tooth interposed between the outer teeth and having a sharpened leading edge and sharpened side edges.

4. In an excavating apparatus which includes a movable boom and an upstanding pivotally mounted dipper stick; a bucket fixed to the dipper stick for movement therewith, the bucket comprising a fixed back Wall, side walls fixedly secured to the back wall, convergent upper extensions on the side walls, a bottom wall, including a leading end edge, pivotally mounted on a transverse axis between the fixed, vertical side walls; a plurality of cutting teeth fixed to the leading end edge of the bottom wall; and quick acting fluid actuated means operatively secured to the bottom wall for pivoting the bottom wall whereby the teeth are adapted to be forced in opposite directions in a cutting operation between the fixed side walls.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said quick acting fluid actuated means comprises a hydraulic cylinder mounted between the convergent extensions of the side walls, a piston rod operatively mounted in the cylinder, and a bail of inverted U-shape carried by the piston rod, the bail bridging the interior of the bucket and being pivotally connected to the bottom wall rearwardly of the pivot axis thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,217,500 Rehally Feb. 27, 1917 1,772,451 Downie Aug. 12, 1930 1,982,219 McAlister Nov. 27, 1934 2,083,643 Fellom June 25, 1937 2,107,895 Lundstrom Feb. 8, 1938 2,530,414 Wells Nov. 21, 1950 2,657,814 Smith Nov. 3, 1953 

